IT may only be five games old, but the 2012 Ribblesdale League season is already showing signs that it could become vintage Brilliant performances and shock results were very much the order of an icy day as leaders Barnoldswick opened up a gap between themselves and the chasing pack thanks to a fine win over Whalley.

Whalley took first knock at Victory Park and posted what appeared to be a testing 179-7 from their 45 overs. Mark Fallon’s half-century and Lee Kearsley’s 47 were the mainstays of that innings but Barnoldswick set about the target in style with Liam Bedford for the hero of the day for Matt Nutter’s men.

They raced to 100-0 from 20 overs and cantered over the line with Bedford making a glorious 100 not out and Abdul Siddique playing second fiddle as he scored 73 not out.

Read were robbed of the services of pace bowler Oliver Newby prior to their game at Cherry Tree after he was withdrawn by Lancashire – and he was a spectator at Preston Old Road as his side were beaten in an enthralling game.

Read were on the back foot as makeshift opener Greg Jones (34) and skipper Paul Turner (48) shared a 92-run opening stand.

From that base Cherry Tree hoped to top 200, especially with sub pro Werner Coetsee – deputising for Liam Jackson whose partner gave birth ahead of the game – looking to push the score along.

But Jon Harvey had other ideas as he bowled quite beautifully for Read. In a classy 18-over spell, the veteran claimed 7-62 as the brakes were applied to the hosts, who closed on 187-9.

It didn’t seem enough and Joe Marshall looked good for 26 while professional Jordan Clark was in a mood to get on with it.

But he never truly looked completely at ease and he had survived a couple of confident leg before wicket shots before Andreas Sudnik sent him back to the pavilion for 34.

There seemed few real worries for Read as they reached 88-4 but Cherry Tree turned the screw and Andreas Sudnik (4-60) and Coetsee (4-72) were unrelenting.

And in the face of that bowling Read subsided to 168 all out despite the efforts of Richard Sharples (25) and Andrew Rushton (17).

Clitheroe were beaten last weekend at Read – and ost again as Settle maintained their fine start to the campaign.

Clitheroe were 149 all out – and the Dalesmen eased past that target with five wickets down.

Great Harwood went into their game at Salesbury without a win – but they set that record straight in good style.

Susantha Pradeep top scored with 26 for the Red Caps, while Jason Rawson made 21 as they were restricted to 139-8 from 45 overs. Syed Shahabuddin claimed three wickets – and then took centre stage with the bat.

Stephen Wright was bowled by Paul Snape with the first deliverly of the reply and when Amar Ullah went for two Harwood were wobbling at 19-2.

But that was as good as it got for Salesbury as Shahabuddin and Russ Whalley put them to the sword. Shahabuddin soared to 81 not out while Whalley made an unbeaten 53 as Harwood cantered home by eight wickets in just 27.5 overs.

Baxenden beat Earby by seven wickets at Back Lane and Ribblesdale Wanderers eased home by five wickets at Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

David Howard claimed 7-40 as Immanuel were 119 all out before John Rain top scored for 63 as Wanderers replied.

And Padiham were involved in another thrilling finish as they beat Edenfield at The Arbories.

Chris Holt claimed 6-74 as Edenfield were 184-8 from 45 overs and despite Anthony Hall’s 54 and 35 from Callum Clarke it seemed as though Padiham were bound to fall short.

But Tom Mustoe’s 47 took them over the line in the final over.